2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee Comfort & Quality

Experts at TheCarConnection.com are starkly underwhelmed by the amount of interior space in the 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee—it's where you’ll see the benefits of opting for one of the more modern crossover vehicle designs instead of this venerable off-roader. The cabin of the Grand Cherokee is surprisingly tight in a vehicle of this size—possibly due to the floor being higher than expected—and even normal-height front-seat occupants might find their heads brushing the sunroof enclosure.

In the back, there’s enough space for three, but it’s not luxurious. And because of the Grand Cherokee's sloping roofline, there is no third row of seats available, and cargo room is limited. Kelley Blue Book reports that the "Jeep Grand Cherokee can accommodate four adults in comfort—five in a pinch." About the front, ConsumerGuide warns that "headroom is not generous for six-footers, but there's ample legroom and shoulder space on supportive seats." In back, Kelley Blue Book explains that there is also "noticeable improvement in rear-seat legroom as well as ease of entry and exit, thanks to the longer rear doors"—a plus for passengers who do not like their knees meeting their ears. They complain, however, that the Grand Cherokee Jeep "does not offer a third row seat, and interior space is nowhere near the levels of larger SUVs." ConsumerGuide notes the rear seating is "quite firm and not contoured for best comfort," adding that "three adults fit, but none have much foot space."

The 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee is quiet and refined, but a vehicle of this size should really have more passenger and cargo room.

Edmunds confirms that "cargo capacity is low for this class, with just 35 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 69 with the seats folded.” ConsumerGuide says cargo space is "ample by absolute standards but subpar for the class."

The quality of the materials and switchgear inside the 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee—including lots of easily scratched plastics—is another issue. Some of it isn't great, but the real wood used in the Limited trim level is an exception and quite tasteful. Car and Driver is unimpressed by the materials, calling the interior hard plastic "a merciless prison." The real wood used in the Limited trim level, however, does raise the bar. Jalopnik likes the door panels that feature “armrests for improved ergonomics and comfort," and Kelley Blue Book praises the interior: "quality materials abound and the layout, execution and attention to detail are all first-rate."

Previous editions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee tend to ride harshly on paved roads, a side effect of being able to crawl over boulders and scamper across sand dunes, but engineers manage to solve the ride/handling compromise to the satisfaction of most.

Noise is well controlled in the 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee. ConsumerGuide says that "one test 5.7 V8 AWD Limited suffered modest gear whine at highway speeds," but this is made up by the fact that "the SRT8 V8 provides a NASCAR-style soundtrack." The Grand Cherokee Jeep is rated by Car and Driver as "the quietest" compared to a HUMMER H3, Toyota FJ Cruiser, and Nissan Xterra when cruising on the highway, but in off-road tests, "its steel unibody sometimes emitted painful gronks when twisted."